Get inside: Guu's interior mixes comfort and modernity (Photo by Renée Suen)
The year 2009 was an offal one in Toronto. The success of The Black Hoof, Buca and Local Kitchen showed that are many adventurous diners left in this city. December’s most anticipated opening shares that adventurous spirit. Tonight, doors officially open at Guu Izakaya, the first Toronto location of Vancouver’s intensely popular Japanese watering hole. Will the diners that embraced the offal trend take to Guu’s fusion of Japanese flavours?
The izakaya concept basically boils down to a Japanese version of a pub. Guu is casual and affordable, loud and infused with energy—staffers shout out greetings and orders. Expect a crowd of Ryerson campus dwellers, office workers and Vancouver expats. The charcoal-grey storefront and heavy wooden doors block out the garish strip mall surroundings, sealing in the sake bar, open kitchen and four long communal tables. Come summer, there will be patio seating on its northern exposure. Vintage signs and posters imported from Japan add colour and character.
Chopped salmon natto yukke, a “seven friends” mixture wrapped with nori seaweed (Photo by Renée Suen)
For drinks, Guu offers competitively priced beers (Sapporo on tap from $4 a mug) and an extensive selection of sakes, shochu (Japanese vodka), chu-high (Japanese vodka sodas), ume-shu (plum wine) and original cocktails featuring Japanese soft drinks. Chef Natsuhiko Sugimoto, who comes to Toronto from the original Vancouver Guus, prepares an array of hot and cold bar food; such favourites as edamame ($3) and karaage ($5.80) are listed alongside non-standards like kakimayo (oysters grilled with spinach, garlic mayo and cheese, $6.80), gyu tangue (grilled beef tongue, $6.30) and chopped salmon natto yukke ($8.30). Although yakitori finds no place on the seafood- and mayo-laden menu, palates will be stimulated by such hearty fare as oden (slow-cooked hot pot, $1.50 a piece; six for $7.50), udon noodles ($6.80–$7.80) and bi bim bap rice bowls with kimchee and pork ($8.50).
Guu Izakaya, 398 Church St. (at Gerrard St. E.), 416-977-0999, guu-izakaya.com.
I was thrilled to read online months ago Guu was coming to Toronto. Having lived in Vancouver for 7 years Gyoza King, Hapa Izakaya and Guu were places I loved and frequented once a week. When I called to see if they took reservations I was told no (as per usual) So we arrived early and sat in the car from 4:20. We watched car after car pull up and park on the street, but no one was getting out. And then at 4:55 like clockwork the car doors flung open and out tromped a heard of 40 diners, a sight I have never seen in Toronto. We were the first in line and last to be seated for some reason but who cares we were there and good eats were on the horizon.
We were presented the menus and clearly told we had a two hour limit, no problem right? WRONG!
We ordered a good bottle of sake and tea. We didn’t receive our tea until 5:35 and by the time our first item of food arrived if was 5:45 Surely they would take the slow start into account. But just to be safe I got up and asked the manager if we needed to really rush because of the two hour limit? “we want to respect your time limit but its kind of hard since we started so late” I said. He replied “don’t worry we never gonna kick our customers out” bowing profusely and smiling. I congratulated him and his team for finally bringing a proper izakaya to Toronto and told him how thrilled we were to be here and thanked him for his understanding. At this point there is a 60 person line up inside the restaurant that snakes its way between tables all the way back to the washrooms. Btw Im sure the fire Marshall will fix the overcrowding problem
By this time we were speaking to a single diner next to us sharing plates and having a great time. At 6:45 we asked our waitress for two more orders of black cod. “No I’m sorry your time is up!” “Im sorry there must be some kind of misunderstanding, I spoke with the manger about it” said I. So I went back to the manager and explained the waitress was kicking us out. His reply “well did you get everything you ordered?” Mine was “Well yes we did but we didn’t know we only had one shot at it but besides you knew we started late and we agreed we got our first item at 5:45. So what’s the problem”?
Now here where it goes really pear shaped. He walks us to the table looks at the start time on the bill and concludes “ITS TIME TO GO!” Bows and smiles. We have half of our $60 bottle of sake and a full beer on the table and now we are getting kicked out? I implored him. My wife implored him. The lady next to us implored him with “please you don’t understand they are having a great time here, they love it here, your making a mistake” I explained you cant kick customers out mid meal. I eventually told him he was being greedy and he should take care of the customers he has before accepting new ones.
This is now when I raise my voice and get everyone attention including one drunk Japanese guy who is all too eager to stick up for his brethren. Now he’s yelling at me across the table. My wife is speechless thinking “can this be happening are we getting kicked out of a restaurant”??? I regret paying the bill including the sake we weren’t allow to finish. And then we were flanked out the door like some unruly customer that had been violent. I cant recall ever being so humiliated or wronged in my life.
If you were there, yes I did raise my voice and so would you if you were in that situation. If the disruption ruined your dinner I know how you feel. I am genuinely sorry for my contribution but I have never been evicted from a restaurant mid meal before and I doubt neither have you.
For me this was an especially painful slap in the face because I have proudly worked in the restaurant industry for over 20 years. So when we go out for dinner (which is far too much and never enough) Its rare for me not to know someone I have worked at some point and consider family(those in the industry will know what I mean by this) But this time you disgraced the industry I love. You cheated and abused the patronage of one of you own, one of the best potential customers you could wish for. I congratulated you sincerely from the heart. I tried to respect you rules when many wouldn’t bother. Then you kick my wife and I out on OUR ANNIVERSARY!
I wont forget, and I will tell EVERYONE what greedy bastards you are.
January 11, 2010 at 11:21 pm | by DavidFunny how David neglects to mention that he was yelling and screaming every swear word in the book at the staff, the manager, and even the managers mother. And he neglects to mention he was kicking over the garbage cans in his rage outside, and to top it off he was picking fights with other customers who tried to quiet him down (even punching another customer in the face). Oh, and he neglects to mention that the police had to be called to get him off the property, which is when he ran away like a a small spoiled child.
January 12, 2010 at 8:55 am | by HenryI am writing this because David’s posting is different from what really happened.
We always initially inform all the customers before seating that we have 2 hours seating policy if there is line-ups.
Even with 2 hours seating policy, we don’t tell our customers that 2 hours are up if their orders are not served and they haven’t finished their foods and drinks.
Once we checked that he finished everything he ordered, drinks and foods, we informed him that the 2 hours were up, but he refused to leave and started screaming, yelling and swearing with F-words to me, my staff and other customers. So I and our manager had to ask you to leave our restaurant immediately. We were talking to him very politely, but he still refused and even tried to catch a fight with other customers.
After he got out of the restaurant, he didn’t stop swearing and yelling using all the possible F-words. He even used F-word to my mother and other family members. And then, he finally caught a fight with another customer unfortunately. He kicked and punched in the face of another customer. I had to call 911 to stop the fighting with other customers. When leaving, he kicked and threw all the garbage bins of our restaurant and our neighbour’s as well. We have all the contacts for witness.
We are very sorry that this unfortunate incident happened and our sincere apology to all of our customers and hopefully, this ends here.
January 12, 2010 at 9:12 am | by GuuOnChurchWell isnt this interesting. You are absolutely right I did leave a few things out. Things I didn’t think you would want to air. Lets make a few things really clear. The time on these posts means you know each other, you aren’t a patron you are staff or friend.
There was no swearing in your restaurant only a raised voice that said “you’re being greeding, you’re making a mistake” There was no picking fights with customers. I did say F-You and push over your recycling bins as I was leaving outside. That is childish and I do apologize
As for saying anything whatsoever to your mother or punching a customer in the face, that is simply untrue. Statements like that are going to get you in trouble.
I assume Henry you are the Drunk patron/friend that followed us out and pushed passed my wife to take a swing at me. I kicked you in the balls in self defense, sorry about that. You also chased us down the street kicking and punching our car. Why you felt the need to take our plate number and call 911 is a mystery to both my wife and I.
I think I will call a lawyer regarding these statements and damage to our vehicle caused by your patrons. Lets see if a lawsuit will make you rethink the way you treat customers. I will also call the Fire Marshall regarding your overcrowding, no more people waiting inside. Ouch that’s going to hurt your lineups. What were you thinking no waiting area with Toronto’s cold winters Do you think people will wait outside for long?
January 12, 2010 at 12:39 pm | by DavidYou wait and see, You pissed off the wrong guy.
Dear Mr. David,
January 12, 2010 at 7:46 pm | by GuuOnChurchIf you’d like to pursue a lawsuit, we will be ready.
We are already talking to our company lawyers for this as well.
Everything you did inside and outside was video-taped and will be presented.
We also have lots of customers and neighbours who witnessed of what you did and they are willing to help.
The customer you hit in the face is also looking forward to meeting with you with his lawyer as well.
Guu owners,
I really find the lies you are telling shocking,
I invite you to present any evidence you have on your security system. It will show I never punched any customer in the face it was your little victim that pushed my wife to take a swing at me, for that he got a kick in the balls, that’s why his pride is so hurt. You are either listening to someone else’s account who is lieing or you are telling lies. Right from the first time we spoke about what time we needed to leave by, you lied, you did a complete 180. I have been honest and owned up to my contribution to the disruption and apologized for it. You on the other hand have just made up lie after lie. If I punched someone in the face PLEASE present the evidence I invite you to, but YOU CANT and YOU KNOW IT. Never mind about friends who will lie for you too, what does the tape say??? Perhaps Im on film yelling about being kicked out, but nothing more. Do you really think people will believe you did no wrong? You can bet after 20 years in the business I will pass this on to more than a few people, and I KNOW it will cost you thousands in lost sales.
Im going to leave the ball in your court for now. So put up or shut up and respect your customers.
BTW-Have you figured out where your guests can wait for an hour or will you be taking reservations soon? Or maybe you are just continuing to break the law and pack that tiny space over capacity.
I tried to play nice but you no listen!
January 13, 2010 at 12:47 am | by David